Oscillatory stirring apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention in its basic and initial aspect is an oscillatory stirring apparatus for a container in which a diaphragm/seal assembly comprises an annular upstanding portion which seals the upper surface of the container opening. A flexible solid central portion is integral with the lower edge of the wall portion and has on its underside an annular ring to sealingly engage the vertical wall of the container opening and a centrally positioned depending protrusion to receive a stirring rod. The upper surface of the central portion has affixed thereto a compound abutment plate to provide orbital movement of said portion when flexing. The assembly further comprises a recessed metal abutment striker disc which is sealingly fitted within the wall portion of the diaphragm/seal above the central portion to provide support for said abutment plate and an alternating current air conduit passing through the striker disc to cause cyclic flexing of said portion. A second aspect of the present invention is a closure assembly for the opening of a container having an upstanding neck with an annular ring on the upper end of the neck. The closure assembly comprises a resilient band around the container neck below the annular ring, the diaphragm/seal assembly recited above, a general U-shaped spring clip pivotally mounted on the resilient band and means to be adjustably positioned on the air conduit of the diaphragm/seal to tension the spring clip to cause the diaphragm/seal to enter into sealing contact with the opening of the container. A third aspect of the invention is employment of the diaphragm/seal for the diaphragm action above with a special preformed sealing closure for a container wherein an adapter to receive the diaphragm/seal assembly is fitted into the underside of the preformed closure and an additional conduit is inserted into the side of the closure to connect with the ACA conduit of the diaphragm/seal assembly.

United States Patent 191 De Bruyne [54] OSCILLATORY STIRRING APPARATUS [76] Inventor; Norman Adrian de Bruyne, 3700 Brunswick Pike, Princeton, NJ. 08540 [22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 458,846

[52] US. Cl. 259/118; 259/102; 259/125 [51] Int. Cl. B01F 7/16 [58] Field of Search 259/102, 113, 114, 116, 259/1l7,118,125

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,054 l/l909 Bland 259/125 3,332,669 7/1967 Colonna..........1................. 259/113 Primary ExaminerPeter Feldman Assistant ExaminerAlan Cantor Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam F. Frank [57] ABSTRACT The present invention in its basic and initial aspect is an oscillatory stirring apparatus for a container in which a diaphragm/seal assembly comprises an annular upstanding portion which seals the upper surface of the container opening. A flexible solid central portion is integral with the lower edge of the wall portion and has on its underside an annular ring to sealingly engage the vertical wall of the container opening and 1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 a centrally positioned depending protrusion to receive a stirring rod. The upper surface of the central portion has affixed thereto a compound abutment plate to provide orbital movement of said portion when flexing. The assembly further comprises a recessed metal abutment striker disc which is sealingly fitted within the wall portion of the diaphragm/seal above the central portion to provide support for said abutment plate and an alternating current air conduit passing through the striker disc to cause cyclic flexing of said portion.

A second aspect of the present invention is a closure assembly for the opening of a container having an upstanding neck with an annular ring on the upper end of the neck. The closure assembly comprises a resilient band around the container neck below the annular ring, the diaphragm/seal assembly recited above, a general U-shaped spring clip pivotally mounted on the resilient band and means to be adjustably positioned on the air conduit of the diaphragm/seal to tension the spring clip to cause the diaphragm/seal to enter into sealing contact with the opening of the container.

A third aspect of the invention is employment of the diaphragm/seal for the diaphragm action above with a special preformed sealing closure for a container wherein an adapter to receive the diaphragm/seal assembly is fitted into the underside of the preformed closure and an additional conduit is inserted into the side of the closure to connect with the ACA conduit of the diaphragm/seal assembly.

18 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheetlof4 3,913,895

FIG. I

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,913,895

US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,913,895

US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,913,895

FIG.X

OSCILLATORY STIRRING APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION This invention is in the field of stirrers used in mixing and agitating liquid compositions. More particularly, this invention lies in the area of oscillating stirrers having more than movement in a vertical plane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART In the matter of stirring liquids by apparatus in lieu of hand-stirring, the attempt has always been to obtain circulation of the liquid composition within the container. The greater degree of circulation results in improved intermingling and homogenizing of the composition or better dispersion of particles within the liquid. In many instances, heat must be applied to the container in addition to the stirring action to achieve the desired results. In other instances, such as certain laboratory work, heating must be avoided, be it from external sources or as can be developed by the very motion and operation of the stirring apparatus.

The path to be followed by the stirrer can enhance the stirring if the proper motion is imparted to the stirrer. In contrast, stirring will be ineffective if the path of the stirrer does not cause the necessary motion within the liquid composition. It is most desirable if the stirrer can impart motion to the liquid so that the liquid moves in a vertical direction and at the same time in a horizontal direction.

In attempting to achieve such motion, oscillating stirrers normally are of a type which can be referred to as plungers," that is, the stirrer is moved up and down in a generally vertical plane. The stirrer frequently has some device attached at or near the end portion in the liquid to impart motion to the liquid.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,484,204 discloses such a piston driven by application of alternating positive and negative pressures to the interior of a reactor vessel containing a vertically moving rod having an enlargement on the lower end. U.S. Pat. No. 3,332,669 discloses a stirring rod having a perforated arcuate plate on the lower end of a stirring rod which is eccentrically connected to the shaft of a motor. U.S. Pat. No. 2,623,738 discloses a stirrer having cup agitators on the lower end, the stirrer being moved vertically by magnetic coils. U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,693 discloses use of a vertically moving stirrer having two pivotally mounted springbiased arms with paddles in their end portions. Generally speaking, the motion of the liquid, when agitated by the above devices, will be in the same arcuate path in the vertical plane. In some instances the stirrer actuator will impart heat to the liquid which may be undesirable, particularly in laboratory work.

Another development to improve liquid flow was the magnetic stirrer, consisting of a bar magnet which is at the bottom of the vessel containing the liquid to be stirred and which is rotated by an external rotating magnetic field. This has become one of the preferred methods of light duty stirring. It has three disadvantages. The motor, which produces the external rotating magnetic field by rotating a permanent magnet, generates uncontrolled heat. Stirring ceases if the liquid is removed from the vicinity of the rotating magnetic field. If controlled heating is required it is necessary to use a specially designed electric hot plate or heating mantle which incorporates the motor. It is impossible to use a bunsen burner or a regular electric hot plate. These three disadvantages are not usually serious in general laboratory practice but in the technique of spin culture of tissues and cells they cause complications and expense. Even though it is possible to insulate the passage of heat from the stirrer motor to the vessel, it is impossible to put the stirrer and vessel in a bench type incubator because the heat transferred to the air in the incubator will cause the temperature to rise above 37C. Either one must add a refrigerator to the incubator or work in a constant temperature room. An additional complication in tissue culture stirring is that the bar magnet must be kept off the bottom of the vessel, otherwise the cells will be damaged.

Another type of laboratory stirrer is known by the name of Vibromischer. It employs an electromagnet and movable armature to move a stirrer with a perforated horizontal disc attached to the end of the stirrer in an up and down motion which causes the liquid to have a motion of a torus which is continually being turned inside out. This device is clumsy, vibrates and is noisy and when used in tissue cell culture work, may cause damage to the cells.

To overcome the disadvantages of the electrically ac tuated stirrers of the prior art as exemplified in the foregoing, my copending British Pat. Application No. 3755/73 discloses the use of low pressure alternating current air, which shall be referred to as ACA throughout the remainder of this application. The ACA is delivered through a rubber stopper for the liquid container to the underside of which stopper there is cemented a rubber diaphragm seal having a flexible horizontal surface which is spaced from the underside of the stopper. A stirrer in the form of a glass or stainless steel rod is pushed into a tubulation at the center of the underside of the horizontal surface of the diaphragm. A horizontal perforated disc is attached to the lower end of the stirrer. The vertical oscillation of the stirrer imposed by the action of ACA against the diaphragm generates stirring action and imparts movement to the liquid in the form of a torus which is continually being turned inside out.

To improve the stirring action so as to impart motion to the liquid to cause it to move in X, Y and Z planes in an orbital path as occurs more closely in manual stirring, my copending British Pat. Application No. 01886/74 discloses the use of a container closure which has two abutments of differing lengths depending from a disc through which ACA passes to strike a diaphragm held in place on the container by its closure. The diaphragm is a horizontal stiff disc with a stirrer depending from its underside. The ACA causes flexing of the stiff disc which is given a nutating motion by repeatedly striking the abutments of differing length. This nutating motion of the disc generates an orbital type of motion of the stirrer in the X, Y and Z planes of the liquid. The stirring of the liquid is improved over that of the earlier British application. However, the diaphragm wears out very rapidly from contacting the abutment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention in its basic and initial aspect is a diaphragm/seal assembly for a container in which the diaphragm/seal comprises an annular upstanding portion which seals the upper surface of the container opening. A flexible solid central portion is integral with the lower edge of the wall portion and has on its underside an annular ring to sealingly engage the vertical wall of the container opening and a centrally positioned depending protrusion to receive a stirrer. The upper surface of the central portion has affixed thereto a compound abutrnent plate. The assembly further comprises a recessed metal abutment striker disc which is sealingly fitted within the wall portion of the diaphragm- /seal and spaced above the central portion, and an ACA conduit passing through the striker disc.

A second aspect of the present invention is a closure assembly for a container having an upstanding neck with an annular ring on the upper end of the neck. The closure assembly comprises a resilient band around the container neck below the annular ring, the diaphragmlseal assembly recited above, a general U-shaped spring clip pivotally mounted on the resilient band and means to be adjustably positioned on the air conduit of the diaphragm/seal to tension the spring clip to cause the diaphragm/seal to enter into sealing contact with the opening of the container.

A third aspect of the invention is employment of the diaphragm/seal for the diaphragm action above with a preformed sealing closure for a container wherein an adapter to receive the diaphragm/seal assembly is fitted into the underside of the preformed closure and an additional conduit is inserted into the side of the closure to connect with the ACA conduit of the diaphragm/seal assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention in its above described aspects is depicted in the following listing of drawing figures in which varying scales have been utilized to more clearly present the invention. The configurations shown, and subsequently to be described. are by way of illustration only and are not limiting as to size and to the full range of application of the invention.

FIG. I is an elevation view of a laboratory bottle to which the present invention has been applied, the bottle having been broken away to illustrate same.

FIG. II is an exploded perspective of the showing in FIG. I along'the line IIII in that figure.

FIG. III is a plan view of the top surface ofa flexible diaphragm/seal of the present invention.

FIG. IV is a cross-sectional view of the diaphragm- /seal in FIG. III along the line IVIV in that figure.

FIG. V is a plan view of the under surface of the diaphragm/seal in FIG. Ill.

FIG. VI is a plan view at an enlarged scale of the compound abutment plate of the present invention before the abutments are formed.

FIG. VII is an elevation view at an enlarged scale of the compound abutment plate after the abutments are formed.

FIG. VIII is a plan view at an enlarged scale of the diaphragm/seal of FIG. III with the compound abutment plate of FIG. VII installed, as also seen in FIG. II.

FIG. IX is a cross-sectional view at an enlarged scale in elevation of the present invention.

FIG. X is an elevation view of another type oflaboratory bottle to which the present invention has been applied, the bottle having been broken away to illustrate same.

FIG. XI is an exploded perspective of the showing in FIG. X along line XI-Xl of that figure.

FIG. XII is a cross-section elevation of the stopper/- cap for the bottle shown in FIG. X.

FIG. XIII is a cross-sectional plan view along the line XIIIXIII of FIG. XII.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. I, A denotes a particular type of laboratory bottle, easily recognizable to laboratory workers as a Kontes" bottle, especially useful in tissue cell culture and chosen to illustrate the basic aspect of the invention. B is the closure assembly defining the second aspect of the invention. C designates the diaphragm/seal assembly comprising the basic aspect of the invention. D denotes the portion of the side wall broken away to show how Band C are fitted to A and to indicate the path of the tip of the stirrer in the X and 2 planes.

The perspective in FIG. II not only presents the various components of the basic and second aspects of the invention in operational relationships, but also depicts each component in its structure. Bottle A has a side port I, normally provided with a cap or stopper (not shown) which can be utilized to introduce an inert gas to remove moisture from the atmosphere within A after the closure assembly B is in place, and then the bottle can be charged through port 1 or the port can be utilized to remove or add material from the bottle, and subsequently the contents of A may be removed if it is not desired to remove the closure assembly. A has a neck portion 2 which is surmounted by an annular ring 3 having in turn a vertical outer wall surface 4, a vertical inner wall surface S and a horizontal top surface 6.

The closure assembly B comprises a diaphragm/seal assembly and a locking assembly. As seen in FIG. II, the locking assembly 50 comprises a resilient band SI fitted around the neck 2 below the annular ring 3. Band 51 may be the well known Oetiker hose clip. The band 51 has two diametral U-shaped portions 52, the vertical surfaces of each having an aperture 53 to receive an end 540 of the generally U-shaped spring clip 54. The closed portion 54b of the spring clip 54 is formed with bent segment 540 for a purpose to be described subsequently. A threaded disc 55, which can be adjustably positioned on the diaphragm/seal assembly as will be described subsequently, receives and supports the bent segment 54c to lock the diaphragm/seal assembly to the bottle.

As seen in FIGS. II V, the diaphragm/seal assembly C comprises in part, a flattened cylindrical diaphragm- /seal 10 having a depending cylinder ll of substantially lesser diameter than diaphragm/seal I0 centrally positioned on the underside 16 of the bottom wall 13. The diaphragm/seal I0 is made of a resilient, flexible material such as neoprene, or silicone rubber if repeated autoclaving is required. Cylinder 11 has a central recess 14 which terminates interiorly in an enlarged recess 15 to receive the enlarged and 8 ofa stirrer 7. The outside diameter of element 10 is substantially equal to the outside diameter of annular ring 3 on neck 2 of bottle A.

The underside 16 of the diaphragm/seal 10 bear a concentric, protruding annular sealing ring 17 having an outside diameter substantially equal to, or slightly greater than the inner diameter of annular ring 3. A flat annular surface 18 extends from the outer edge of ring 17 to the outer edge of the underside 16. Rising vertically from the outer edge of underside 16 is the diaphragm/seal wall 19. Atop wall I9 is an annular retaining/sealing ring 20. Ring 20 is spaced from the interior bottom surface 23 of the diaphragm/seal 10 by the inner wall 21 of the diaphragm/seal which forms annular recess 26. Bottom surface 23 and underside 16 deline between them the flexible diaphragm of the invention. The underside 22 of ring 20 provides a flat sealing surface for purposes to be subsequently explained. Bottom surface 23 is terminated short of inner wall 21 by an annular recess 25 and is joined to recess 25 by a downwardly tapered annular surface 24. The annular recess 25 provides for the flexing of the diaphragm in the area of sealing ring 17 by reducing the thickness of the bottom wall I3 at the sealing ring 17 portion.

The novel abutment arrangement which, when combimed with the flexible diaphragm, provides the threedimensional stirring and liquid movement is shown most clearly in FIGS. VI VIII. The compound abutment plate 60 is made from a stiff but maleable metal such as aluminum, for example, and has two legs 61 and 62 extending at right angles to each other. The tip portion on each leg is bent at a right angle to the leg to form a vertical abutment on each leg, 63 and 64 respectively. An aperture 65 is drilled in each leg along its axis, the apertures being equi-distance from the intersection of the axes of the legs. Compound abutment plate 60 is mounted on the bottom surface 23 of the diaphragm/seal by placing the plate 60 on the surface 23 with the axis of leg 6] juxtapositioned to the X axis of the surface 23, and the Y axis of leg 62 juxtapositioned to the Y axis of the surface 23, the intersection of the axes of legs 61 and 62 thereby juxtapositioned to the intersection of the X and Y axes of surface 23. Use is made of a material which will bond the plate to the rubber surface 23 and screws 66 are then inserted through apertures 65 into the bottom wall 13 of the diaphragm/seal 10. It will be noted that leg 61 is of greater length than leg 62 and that abutment 63 is higher than abutment 64. The purpose for these differences will be explained subsequently. While the compound abutment plate has been illustratively described as being formed of metal, a plastic material having the equivalent properties could be used with equal effectiveness.

The remaining parts of the diaphragm/seal assembly C are the means to connect the assembly to the source of ACA and the means which cooperate with the compound abutment plate 60 to provide the stirring action which is the result of the present invention.

As seen in FIGS. II and IX, there is provided a metallic abutment striker disc 30 for insertion into the diaphragm/seal 10 having an upper surface 34 through which passes a centrally bored threaded aperture 33. The side wall 35 terminates in an annular ring 31 which extends outwardly from the wall 30 to form a retaining lip 36. The bottom surface of the disc is milled out to form a cylindrical recess 32. While the disc has been illustratively described as being made of metal and machined to the shape described, a plastic material having equivalent properties of the metal could be substituted with equal effectiveness.

The means to connect the assembly B to the source of ACA comprises an inlet conduit 40 having a lower threaded portion 41 which is fitted into threaded aperture 33 in disc 30 and an upper portion 42 having annular rings 43 to lockingly engage the inner surface of a conduit (not shown) from the source of ACA. A nut 44 is provided to be fitted over the threaded portion 4] to lock the inlet conduit 40 to the disc 30 after threaded portion 41 is fitted into aperture 33.

For those uses of the present invention when it may be necessary to employ ACA of some pressure or the opening of the container being employed does not have adequate surfaces to provide the necessary sealing contact with the diaphragm/seal 10 without tensioning of the closure to the extent that the side wall 19 of the diaphragm/seal 10 will bulge outwardly and possibly break the seal between the striker disc 30 and the diaphragm/seal inner wall 21, as will be seen in FIG. II there is provided a rigid cap 27 having a depending side wall 28 whose inner surface slidingly can engage the outer wall 19 of the diaphragm/seal 10 to restrain it. The cap has an aperture 29 which is fitted over inlet conduit 40 and the nut 44 is then threaded onto portion 41 and presses cap 27 into contact with annular ring 20 of the diaphragm/seal 10.

FIG. IX illustrates the novel appearance of the diaphragrn/seal assembly C when it is assembled. When disc 30 is inserted into the diaphragm/seal l0 lip 36 of disc 30 is sealingly and lockingly fitted into recess 26 in inner wall 21. This brings recess 32 into contact with abutments 62 and 64 of which only 64 is shown in FIG. IX. Since the abutments have more height than the recess has depth, the bottom wall I3 is pressed downwardly in the portion in contact with the abutment plate. This downward movement causes cylinder 11 to be moved from the vertical to a position where the axis of the recess 14 forms an angle of l2 with the vertical. This position is the normal angle of repose when the diaphragm/seal assembly C is at rest. Accordingly, the upper portion 9 of the stirrer 7 is bent 12 from the central axis of the stirrer so that the stirrer will depend in a vertical plane when actuation of the assembly C is begun.

In FIG. X, D denotes a type of laboratory bottle made by Corning Glass and known to the trade by the trademark Fleaker. This bottle has a closure/sealer E which additionally allows the bottles to be stacked upon one another. C denotes the application of the basic aspect of the present invention to B. F denotes the portion of the side wall of D which is broken away to show how C is fitted to E to define the third aspect of the present invention.

The perspective in FIG. XI, and the showings in FIGS. XII and XIII, not only present the components of the basic and third aspects of the present invention in their operational relationships, but also depicts the structures. The closure/sealer E for D is composed of a cylindrical cap with a side wall 7]. An inverted truncated rubber stopper 72 is retained within cap 70 by a plastic ring 77 and bears against the matching interior surface of the neck on the bottle. Stopper 72 terminates in an annular sealing ring 73 which is of greater diameter than the portion of stopper 72 at the plane of attachment. The ring 73 fits under the juncture of the neck of the bottle and the shoulder of the bottle from which it rises. The lower end of the stopper carries a cylindrical recess 74 having a top surface 75 which recess may be utilized to receive in its upper end a stirrer or thermometer or other laboratory device when the cap 70 is placed on the bottle. A central bore 76 is made in the stopper 72 upwardly from surface 75 to receive an adapter 80. Adapter 80 comprises a smooth-walled cylindrical portion 81 which is slidably fitted into bore 76 and a grooved interiorly positioned end portion 82 which frictionally engages and retains the adapter 80 within bore 76. A flange 83 on the exterior end of adapter 80 restrains the adapter from being inserted too far into bore 76. The adapter 80 is also provided with a threaded bore 84 which threadedly receives the inlet conduit 40 of the diaphragm/seal assembly 10 into which stirrer 7 is inserted as previously described.

In order to conduct the ACA to inlet conduit 40 of the diaphragm/seal assembly 10, a horizontal bore 90 is made in the upper portion of the cap 70 and stopper 72 to intersect with the central bore 76. into bore 90, there is inserted tube 91 which bears a plurality of grooves or rings 92 to frictionally engage the wall of bore 90 to retain the tube 91 within the cap 70 and a plurality of grooves or rings 93 to frictionally engage the inner surface of the conduit (not shown) from the source of the ACA.

In addition to the frictional retention of adapter 80 within bore 76 and tube 91 within bore 90 by structure, use may also be made of adhesive material which will serve to form a bond between metal and rubber.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION As pointed out in the discussion of prior art, there is no known stirring device, prior to the present invention, which will consistently and uniformly trace out a closed arcuate orbit with X and Y axes in a horizontal plane and to which there is simultaneously imparted uniform movement, although less in displacement, along a Z axis which intersects the juncture of the X and Y axes. The motion along the Z axis is imparted by the cycle of flexing of the diaphragm. The circular or elliptical motion in the horizontal plane is the resultant of two oscillations along the X and Y axes with a phase difference between these two oscillations.

To achieve an elliptical path, a refined conceptual model would be to think of a stirrer as a rigid vertical pendulum attached to a flexible diaphragm. As it is desired to have this pendulum sweep out a cone for every complete cycle of oscillation of the flexing force, it is necessary l to make the natural period of the pendulum and diaphragm equal to that of the flexing force and (2) ensure that the flexing force applies a tilting force along one horizontal axis X and then approximately one quarter of a cycle later along another horizontal axis Y where X and Y are preferably at right angles to each other. For a circular orbit the phase angle should be 90 and the amplitudes of the oscillations should be equal. This is proven in the following analy- SIS.

Let the vibration of the tip of a stirrer along the X axis be given by E A sin wt and the vibration along the Y axis be given by E,, B sin(mt 0), wherein A and B are the amplitudes and 9 is the phase difference between the two vibrations. It is of interest to consider five cases designated a-e.

The resultant motion is a straight line at 45 to the X and Y axes and is not effective stirring.

Again the tip will move in a straight line at an angle a radians to the X axis where tana B/A. This is not effective stirring.

c. A B 0 1r/2(90) E,= A sin wt and E,,= A cos wt E [5,, E A E which is the resultant is now independent of time and the tip rotates with a constant angular velocity E A sinmt and E, B cosmt This is the equation of an ellipse. This motion also gives good stirring, and since in practice it is difficult to ensure that A B, it is the orbit most frequently seen.

A92 EV e. A B O t9 1r/2 The motion is again elliptical, but the principal axes of the ellipse are inclined to the X and Y axes. From the point of view of effective stirring, (d) and (e) are equivalent.

The above analysis (which will be familiar to physicists as applicable to the resultant vibration of polarized light see for example Frauenfelder & Huber Physik II pages 45 l-2) does not take account of the effect of drag due to viscosity and/or dynamic reactions on the immersed part of the stirrer rod. The amplitudes A and B are much reduced when the stirrer rod is lowered into the liquid, and the orbit becomes closer to a circular shape in the liquid if the orbit was elliptical in air.

Having found the principles of oscillation upon which the invention should rest, the reduction to mechanical equivalency dictated that leg 61 should exceed leg 63 in length, and, to obtain the approximately one quarter cycle time phase differential in the application of the flexing force as a tilting force along an X axis and a Y axis, it was also found that the abutment 63 on leg 61 should be of greater height than abutment 64 on leg 62. The flexing of the diaphragm in the Z plane was found to require that the compound abutment 62 and 64 be formed as a single plate mounted on the diaphragm and reacted against the recess surface 32 of disc 30 by the alternating pulses from the diaphragm flexing force.

FIG. lX clearly illustrates the assembly of the diaphragm/seal 10. The flexing force employed in the illustrative embodiments described in this application is a low pressure (2 or 3 pounds per square inch) flow of air. The use of a compressed air or gas (above one atmosphere) to actuate stirrers has been standard practice, as for example US. Pat. No. 3,484,204. its major disadvantage in laboratory work involving controlled and gentle stirring, such as in tissue cell work, is the force of the pressure and the need for an ultimate means for creating the pressures. Low pressure ACA, on the contrary, is a most convenient medium for the transference of energy in a laboratory. It is easily generated by a small electrically driven piston-cylinder pump without valves, and such a pump can be placed as far as 50 feet from the laboratory work. As with compressed air, ACA shares an intrinsic safety against fire. In certain circumstances requiring protection against the presence of oxygen, an inert gas could be satisfactorily substituted for the air in ACA. Other operational advantages of an ACA type flexing force for the diaphragm include the negation of a need for cumbersome means to lock supply hoses to the air conduit 40 and the absence of need for filters because an ACA type flow is oscillating and has no steady translation motion.

In the actuation of the basic aspect of the present invention, a hose from a source of ACA is fitted over the rings 43 on upper portion 42 of inlet conduit 40. When at rest, abutments 63 and 64 are in contact with the recess surface 32 at its periphery. The positive phase pulse of ACA passes through the conduit 40 and presses against the bottom surface 23 of the diaphragm/seal l0. lt also has a reaction against disc 30, pressing retaining lip 36 sealingly against recess 26 within diaphragm/seal 10. The surface 23 flexes downwardly in the Z plane and at the same time has an orbital motion about the abutments 63 and 64 which remain in contact with the recess surface 32. Since abut ment 64 is of lesser height than abutment 63, the bottom surface is not perpendicular to the inflowing pulse of ACA. Thus, the force of ACA is divided into a Z plane vector and vectors in the X and Y plane. The flexing path of the diaphragm is translated by the depending cylinder ll and its depending stirrer 7 into a vertical cone by the stirrer 7 sweeping around its focus as a generatrix. At the same time as the cone path is being generated, the lower surface of the cone is following a descending and then ascending, closed, arcuate path because of the downward thrust of the diaphragm from the vertical vector of the positive ACA pulse. This motion is a complete cycle with each positive ACA pulse. When the negative ACA phase occurs, the diaphragm returns to the rest position previously described and in so doing, causes the depending cylinder l2 and the stirrer 7 to rise along a path the reverse of the path in the positive phase.

The stirrer moves in the described path with surprising force against the viscosity of the liquid. It has been found that an embodiment of the diaphragm/seal assembly C sized to the *Kontes" bottle is effective in a liquid having a viscosity equal to a 50% solution of glycerin.

When employing the diaphragm/seal assembly C in the second aspect of the invention as closure/oscillating stirrer, the assembly 10 is fitted onto opening of neck 2 so that surface 18 of the diaphragm/seal is fitted onto horizontal top surface 6 of annular ring 3 on the neck 2, and the annular ring 17 on the underside 16 of the diaphragm/seal 10 is in contact with the vertical inner wall 5 of the annular ring 3 on the bottle. Threaded disc 55 of the locking assembly is threaded upon lower portion 41 of inlet conduit 40. The U-shpaed spring clip 54 has its ends 54a inserted into apertures 53 in the diametral portions 52 of band 51. The clip 54 is then moved upwardly until bent segment 54c is in contact with the upper portion 42 of the inlet conduit 40. Disc 55 is then threadedly raised along portion 41 until contact is made with bent segment 54c, and then the disc is raised further until the tension in spring clip 54 reacts against further movement of the disc 55. At this time, surface 18 of the diaphragm/seal 10 is sealingly engaged with surface 6 of annualr ring 3 and annular sealing ring 17 of the diaphragm/seal 10 is sealingly pressed against the vertical surface 5, thus providing a double seal for the bottle. A hose from a source of ACA is then fitted over the rings or grooves 43 on the upper portion 42 of the inlet conduit 40 which is extending above the bent segment 54c, and the stirring of the contents of the bottle can be begun.

When employing the diaphragm/seal assembly C in the third aspect of the invention as a stirrer for a Fleaker" type bottle, the assembly C is attached to the closure/sealer E by threading lower portion 41 of inlet conduit 40 into threaded bore 84 of adapter which has been securely fitted into central bore 76 in the stopper 72. The closure/sealer E is then inserted into the opening of the Fleaker" so that annular sealing ring 73 is force-fitted as a seal under the juncture of the neck of the bottle and the bottle shoulder from which it rises, and thereby rubber stopper 72 is brought into sealing contact with the sides of the neck of the Fleaker". A hose from a source of ACA is then fitted over the grooves or rings 93 of tube 91 which has been securely fitted into bore 90.

While the present invention with all the aspects illustrated and described has been demonstrated as using ACA, it should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that ultrasonic or electromagnetic devices could be substituted for the ACA in those employments of the invention where the previously discussed side effects do not affect laboratory work or where the embodiment of the diaphragm/seal assembly C is too large for ACA. In such instances, use would be made of an adapter which would be fitted over the inlet conduit 40 as an elongated guide for an actuating rod depending from the ultrasonic or electromagnetic actuator. The rod would have at least its lower portion which would be fitted into the adapter and placed in contact with the diaphragm made of a non-conductive substance.

Changes in size of the invention to meet unusual requirements dictated by the container to be employed and modifications commensurate with achieving the orbital path disclosed herein are contemplated by this disclosure and are encompassed within the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An oscillating stirring apparatus for liquids in a scalable container comprising a diaphragm/seal assembly having first means forming the outer part of said assembly said first means comprising a flexible diaphragm, diaphragm pivot means mounted on said diaphragm and a stirring rod depending from said diaphragm, and second means forming the inner part of said assembly sealingly inserted into said first means and comprising conduit means to receive and conduct a cyclic flexing force into contact with said diaphragm and means on the underside of said second means in contact with said diaphragm pivot means providing support for said pivot means during the application of said flexing force to said diaphragm whereby said diaphragm moves in an orbital path.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means has sealing means on the underside thereof to sealingly engage the opening of said bottle.

3. The apparatus according to claim I wherein said first means is made from a resilient material.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first means further comprises a vertical annular wall, formed integrally with the peripheral edge of said flexible diaphragm, an annular ring formed integrally with the upper edge of said vertical wall and extending inwardly to provide a circular opening, said ring being spaced from the upper surface of said diaphragm and forming a sealing recess therebetween, a concentrically formed cylinder depending from the underside of said diaphragm and formed integrally therewith, said stirring rod dependingly held by a recess in said cylinder and said diaphragm pivot means being secured to the upper surface of said diaphragm within said vertical wall.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said diaphragm pivot means comprises a compoundabutment plate secured to the central portion of the upper surface of said diaphragm and extending radially therefrom.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said compound-abutment plate comprises two legs extending at an angle of from their juncture, each having an abutment rising from its terminal end.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein one leg is of greater length than the other leg and the abutment thereon is of greater height than the abutment on said other leg.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said abutment plate extends radially along said upper surface to a point substantially directly below the inner edge of said annular ring.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a flat surface on the periphery of said underside to sealingly engage the top surface of the bottle opening through which the apparatus is inserted and an annular ring protruding from said underside and contiguous to the inner edge of said flat surface to sealingly engage the vertical wall of said bottle opening.

10. The apparatus according to claim I wherein said second means is made from a rigid material.

1 l. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second means comprises a disc having a retaining lip extending outwardly from its lower surface as a seal to be inserted into an opening in said first means, said conduit for a flexing force for said diaphragm extending upwardly through said disc, the lower surface of said disc having a concentric, circular recess formed therein to receive and support said diaphragm pivot means, the lower end of said conduit terminating at the surface of said recess.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recess is of a radius at least equal to the length of said diaphragm pivot means.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means to be fitted over said conduit means to encompass the top and upper portion of said assembly to restrain said first part against lateral extension, and means to lock said restraining means to said assembly.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexing force is low pressure alternating current air.

15. A closure/stirring apparatus for a bottle having a closure locking assembly and a sealing/stirring assembly, said sealing/stirring assembly comprising a resilient, vertically walled ring having a flexible diaphragm formed integrally with the lower edge thereof, a concentric cylinder depending from the underside of said diaphragm, a stirring rod depending from a recess in said cylinder, an annular ring integrally formed with the upper edge of said wall and extending inwardly therefrom to define an opening, said ring and said diaphragm defining a recess between them, a compound-abutment plate providing orbital movement to said diaphragm during its flexing secured to the center of the upper surface of said diaphragm and extending radially from said center to a point substantially below the inner edge of said ring, the plate having two abutments thereon at its periphery, the abutments being at right angles to each other, a disc of rigid material having a retaining lip extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof, the disc being inserted into said opening in said annular ring to sealingly engage said retaining lip into said recess between said annular ring and said diaphragm, a recess in the lower surface of said disc to receive and pivotally support said abutments of said plate during the flexing of said diaphragm, an inlet conduit for receiving a source of low pressure alternating current air to flex said diaphragm extending upwardly through said disc from the surface of the recess in said disc, said conduit having a threaded portion along its length adjacent the upper surface of said disc, the said diaphragm having on its underside a flat surface on the periphery thereof to sealingly engage the top surface of the bottle opening and an annular ring protruding from said underside and contiguous with the inner edge of said flat surface to sealingly engage the vertical wall of said bottle openmg.

16. The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said closure locking assembly comprises a resilient band around the container neck, a generally U-shaped spring clip pivotally mounted on the resilient band and means to be adjustably positioned on the inlet conduit of the said diaphragm/seal to tension the spring clip to cause the diaphragm/seal to enter into sealing contact with the opening of the container.

17. The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said closure locking assembly comprises a special preformed sealing closure for the container and wherein an adapter to receive the said diaphragm/seal assembly is fitted into the underside of the preformed closure and an additional conduit is inserted into the side of the closure to connect with the inlet conduit of the diaphragm/seal assembly.

18. An oscillating stirring apparatus for liquids in a sealable container wherein a diaphragm/seal assembly comprises an annular upstanding wall portion which seals the upper surface of the container opening, a flexible solid central portion integral with the lower edge of the said wall portion, said central portion having on its underside an annular ring to sealingly engage the vertical wall of the container opening and a centrally positioned depending protrusion to receive a depending stirring rod, the upper surface of the central portion having affixed thereto a compound abutment plate to provide orbital movement of the said portion when flexing, the assembly further comprising a recessed metal abutment striker disc which is sealingly fitted within the wall portion of the diaphragm/seal above the central portion to provide support for said abutment plate and an alternating current air conduit passing through the striker disc to cause cyclic flexing of said portion.

i l l 

1. An oscillating stirring apparatus for liquids in a sealable container comprising a diaphragm/seal assembly having first means forming the outer part of said assembly said first Means comprising a flexible diaphragm, diaphragm pivot means mounted on said diaphragm and a stirring rod depending from said diaphragm, and second means forming the inner part of said assembly sealingly inserted into said first means and comprising conduit means to receive and conduct a cyclic flexing force into contact with said diaphragm and means on the underside of said second means in contact with said diaphragm pivot means providing support for said pivot means during the application of said flexing force to said diaphragm whereby said diaphragm moves in an orbital path.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means has sealing means on the underside thereof to sealingly engage the opening of said bottle.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means is made from a resilient material.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first means further comprises a vertical annular wall, formed integrally with the peripheral edge of said flexible diaphragm, an annular ring formed integrally with the upper edge of said vertical wall and extending inwardly to provide a circular opening, said ring being spaced from the upper surface of said diaphragm and forming a sealing recess therebetween, a concentrically formed cylinder depending from the underside of said diaphragm and formed integrally therewith, said stirring rod dependingly held by a recess in said cylinder and said diaphragm pivot means being secured to the upper surface of said diaphragm within said vertical wall.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said diaphragm pivot means comprises a compound-abutment plate secured to the central portion of the upper surface of said diaphragm and extending radially therefrom.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said compound-abutment plate comprises two legs extending at an angle of 90* from their juncture, each having an abutment rising from its terminal end.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein one leg is of greater length than the other leg and the abutment thereon is of greater height than the abutment on said other leg.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said abutment plate extends radially along said upper surface to a point substantially directly below the inner edge of said annular ring.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a flat surface on the periphery of said underside to sealingly engage the top surface of the bottle opening through which the apparatus is inserted and an annular ring protruding from said underside and contiguous to the inner edge of said flat surface to sealingly engage the vertical wall of said bottle opening.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second means is made from a rigid material.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said second means comprises a disc having a retaining lip extending outwardly from its lower surface as a seal to be inserted into an opening in said first means, said conduit for a flexing force for said diaphragm extending upwardly through said disc, the lower surface of said disc having a concentric, circular recess formed therein to receive and support said diaphragm pivot means, the lower end of said conduit terminating at the surface of said recess.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said recess is of a radius at least equal to the length of said diaphragm pivot means.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means to be fitted over said conduit means to encompass the top and upper portion of said assembly to restrain said first part against lateral extension, and means to lock said restraining means to said assembly.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flexing force is low pressure alternating current air.
 15. A closure/stirring apparatus for a bottle having a closure locking assembly and a sealing/stirring assembly, said sealing/stirring assembly comprising a resilient, vertically walled rinG having a flexible diaphragm formed integrally with the lower edge thereof, a concentric cylinder depending from the underside of said diaphragm, a stirring rod depending from a recess in said cylinder, an annular ring integrally formed with the upper edge of said wall and extending inwardly therefrom to define an opening, said ring and said diaphragm defining a recess between them, a compound-abutment plate providing orbital movement to said diaphragm during its flexing secured to the center of the upper surface of said diaphragm and extending radially from said center to a point substantially below the inner edge of said ring, the plate having two abutments thereon at its periphery, the abutments being at right angles to each other, a disc of rigid material having a retaining lip extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof, the disc being inserted into said opening in said annular ring to sealingly engage said retaining lip into said recess between said annular ring and said diaphragm, a recess in the lower surface of said disc to receive and pivotally support said abutments of said plate during the flexing of said diaphragm, an inlet conduit for receiving a source of low pressure alternating current air to flex said diaphragm extending upwardly through said disc from the surface of the recess in said disc, said conduit having a threaded portion along its length adjacent the upper surface of said disc, the said diaphragm having on its underside a flat surface on the periphery thereof to sealingly engage the top surface of the bottle opening and an annular ring protruding from said underside and contiguous with the inner edge of said flat surface to sealingly engage the vertical wall of said bottle opening.
 16. The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said closure locking assembly comprises a resilient band around the container neck, a generally U-shaped spring clip pivotally mounted on the resilient band and means to be adjustably positioned on the inlet conduit of the said diaphragm/seal to tension the spring clip to cause the diaphragm/seal to enter into sealing contact with the opening of the container.
 17. The apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said closure locking assembly comprises a special preformed sealing closure for the container and wherein an adapter to receive the said diaphragm/seal assembly is fitted into the underside of the preformed closure and an additional conduit is inserted into the side of the closure to connect with the inlet conduit of the diaphragm/seal assembly.
 18. An oscillating stirring apparatus for liquids in a sealable container wherein a diaphragm/seal assembly comprises an annular upstanding wall portion which seals the upper surface of the container opening, a flexible solid central portion integral with the lower edge of the said wall portion, said central portion having on its underside an annular ring to sealingly engage the vertical wall of the container opening and a centrally positioned depending protrusion to receive a depending stirring rod, the upper surface of the central portion having affixed thereto a compound abutment plate to provide orbital movement of the said portion when flexing, the assembly further comprising a recessed metal abutment striker disc which is sealingly fitted within the wall portion of the diaphragm/seal above the central portion to provide support for said abutment plate and an alternating current air conduit passing through the striker disc to cause cyclic flexing of said portion. 